Australian speedster Mitchell Starc scripted history to become the 8th bowler in the history of the game to bag two hat-tricks in the same first-class match. His 2nd hat-trick of the Sheffield Shield match drew many reactions from the cricketing fraternity who lauded the fast bowler for his heroic achievement.
Starc’s idol Mitchell Johnson was quick to laud the bowler on his phenomenal achievement and so was his national skipper Steve Smith but the most special of them came from none other than his wife Alyssa Healy who also happens to be an Australian cricketer. Healy represented Australia in the previous World Cup which was won by England. Healy watched her husband create history online and was highly impressed with his performance.
Starc who will be spearheading the Australian pace attack for the upcoming Ashes slated to begin on 23rd November at the Gabba in Brisbane has bagged 148 wickets in 36 Tests. The left-arm pacer has been out of international cricket since June, and his return to form will be worrying signs for England who are already struggling with injury woes and other issues with their players.
Starc was rested for the limited overs series against the Men in Blue which the Aussies lost 1-4 but will be delighted with the fact that he has regained his form just day’s before the oldest rivalry of cricket gets underway.
Starc became the 8th bowler to achieve the feat and also the first since the year 1979. Before him R.O. Jenkins, Amin Lakhani, T.J. Matthews, C.W.L. Parker, J.S. Rao, A. Shaw and A.E. Trott were the ones who had bagged two hat-tricks in the same match. In fact, Trott and Rao bagged two hat-tricks in the same innings.
Starc’s hat-trick included the wickets of Jason Behrendorff, David Moody and Jon Wells which was spread over two overs. He got the wicket of Behrendorff and Moody with the last two deliveries of his 15th over and then came back to send back Jon Wells to complete his 2nd hat-trick of the game.